Defense Software Acquisition Cadre Act of 2021
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (3 Sep 2021): Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
What this bill does
H.R. 5153, the Defense Software Acquisition Cadre Act of 2021, would require the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, to establish by January 1, 2022, a specialized "cadre" of personnel expert in software development and acquisition. This group would advise program offices and acquisition commands within the military departments on modern software practices—such as agile development and DevSecOps—commercial software licensing, contracting, cost estimation, and cybersecurity considerations throughout a weapons or information system's life cycle. The bill also directs development of a licensing framework for procuring commercial software and calls for cross-functional teams combining government and industry expertise.
The bill primarily affects the Department of Defense's acquisition workforce, program managers, and officials overseeing software-related defense programs, as well as private contractors who may be hired or contracted to support the cadre. It sets staffing preferences favoring civilian DOD employees over military personnel, allows use of existing hiring authorities and the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund, and imposes ethics disclosure requirements on contractor employees treated as special government employees.
The bill was introduced on September 3, 2021, by Rep. Anthony Brown and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. It did not receive a vote and did not become law before the end of the 117th Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Defense Software Acquisition Cadre Act of 2021
This bill requires the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment of the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish a group of experts on development and acquisition of software to ensure a consistent, strategic, and highly knowledgeable approach to developing and acquiring software in support of DOD Instruction 5000.02, Operation of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework (January 23, 2020).
Timeline
3 Sep 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 5153 do?
- H.R. 5153, the Defense Software Acquisition Cadre Act of 2021, would require the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, to establish by January 1, 2022, a specialized "cadre" of personnel expert in software development and acquisition. This group would advise program offices and acquisition commands within the military departments on modern software practices—such as agile development and DevSecOps—commercial software licensing, contracting, cost estimation, and cybersecurity considerations throughout a weapons or information system's life cycle. The bill also directs development of a licensing framework for procuring commercial software and calls for cross-functional teams combining government and industry expertise. The bill primarily affects the Department of Defense's acquisition workforce, program managers, and officials overseeing software-related defense programs, as well as private contractors who may be hired or contracted to support the cadre. It sets staffing preferences favoring civilian DOD employees over military personnel, allows use of existing hiring authorities and the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund, and imposes ethics disclosure requirements on contractor employees treated as special government employees. The bill was introduced on September 3, 2021, by Rep. Anthony Brown and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. It did not receive a vote and did not become law before the end of the 117th Congress.
- Has H.R. 5153 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 5153. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 5153?
- H.R. 5153 was sponsored by Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4] (D-MD), with 0 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 5153?
- Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. (3 Sep 2021).
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